“Yes, Camille, that’s fantastic,” Emily chimed in. “Congratulations!”
“Thank you all. It’s going to be fabulous.” Camille declared, smiling broadly. “But enough about me, what’s going on with the rest of you?” She glanced from face to face.
“I’m happy to report my fitness trainin’ business is goin’ well. Oh, and I just have to tell y’all that I have the most gorgeous, delicious new client. He’s tall, dark and oh-so-handsome,” Maggie gushed.
“Sounds like you’d like him to be more than a client, Maggie.” Isabel raised a questioning brow.
“Maybe.” She giggled.
“He’s not married, is he?” Isabel asked suspiciously
“I don’t think so. He doesn’t wear a wedding ring and he hasn’t mentioned a wife.”
“It’s best to make sure, Maggie, before you start getting all dreamy over him,” Camille warned.
“Yes, Mama,” Maggie deferred sarcastically.
“Well, I’m working on a big case,” Isabel said. “Do you remember the man who was arrested for killing that family in eastern Oregon, George Semanski? The FBI is building a case against him, and he’ll be going to trial in a few months. I’m headed out of town in the next few weeks as part of the work I’m doing on it.”
“Oh my gosh, Isabel,” Maggie exclaimed.
“Why is the FBI involved?” Emily questioned.
“Because after killing the family, Semanski kidnapped the neighbor’s kid—or I should say he allegedly kidnapped the neighbor’s kid—who happened to be at the house during the murders and took him across state lines, which makes it an FBI matter,” Isabel explained.
“That makes sense.” Maggie nodded.
“What about you, Emily?” Camille asked.
“Me? I guess my real estate business is doing okay.” The word okay carried a hint of uncertainty.
“Not great?” Camille asked, sticking out her bottom lip sympathetically.
“More like limping along,” Emily answered. “I have a young couple I’ll be showing homes to later this afternoon. I’m really hoping they buy today, because Lord knows I could certainly use the commission right now. A couple of my deals are set to close in the next few weeks—fingers crossed—but there are not nearly as many as there use to be.”
“Are you still paying the lease on Evan’s old office?” Isabel asked.
“Yes, I’m on the hook for another year, unfortunately. And because it is such an old building, subleasing is almost impossible. The building is practically vacant as it is.”
“Ouch,” Isabel responded.
The server returned with a plate in each hand and another server followed with the rest of the food, setting the plates down in front of each of the women.
“Mmmm, it smells delicious.” Isabel took a whiff of her burger and fries.
“Yes, it does, and everything looks great too. Thank you, miss,” Camille told the young waitress.
“I’ll be back to check on you ladies a little later. Enjoy.” Katie moved on to another table.
As soon as she left, Emily gently clinked her knife against her water glass a few times to bring her friends’ attention to her.
“First, before we dig into our lunches, I want to say thank you all for picking this lovely restaurant for our celebration. I’m so enjoying the sunshine and the river view,” Emily began, and all the other women nodded their agreement.
“Secondly, in honor of celebrating the five-year anniversary of the day we met and began our friendship, I would like to make a toast.” Emily raised her glass. The other women picked up their glasses, as well. “I want thank each of you for being there for me when I needed you most this last year, after Evan died, and for us all being there for each other through the ups and downs of our lives. You are the best friends any woman could have, and I love you all!”
“Here’s to all of us!” Camille chimed in and they all took a sip of their drinks. “Thank you, Emily. That was so sweet.” She patted Emily on the leg. “Now girls, why don’t we take a walk down memory lane?”
“What do you mean?” Emily asked, as she picked up her fork to dig into her fish.
“It’s been a long time since the special day we’re honoring today. I thought it would be fun to talk about it. Do you girls remember that day we first met?” Camille glanced around the table. “And why you were there?”
“Of course,” Isabel answered, munching on one of her oven fries. “You were holding a cooking class at your catering shop and we came to learn how to cook.”
“You were all such newbies,” Camille chuckled, picking up a forkful of sea bass. She had just opened her catering and